April 30, 2012 - U.S. health officials say only 13 percent of adults in this country have high total cholesterol. That may seem incredible in a nation where two thirds of adults are overweight. Experts believe it's largely because so many Americans take cholesterol lowering drugs, but dropping smoking rates and other factors also contributed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the report Tuesday. The numbers come from interviews and blood tests of nearly than 6,000 U.S. adults in 2009 and 2010. Cholesterol is a fat-like substance in the blood. Too much total cholesterol is a risk for heart disease. The government set a goal that no more than 17 percent of adults have high total cholesterol. The goal was achieved about five years ago for women and more than ten years ago for men.

Also, if the beginning of spring left you with itchy, watery eyes, a scratchy throat or nose, you're not alone. Spring is the most common time of the year for people to experience seasonal allergy symptoms. As the weather gets warmer and plants start to bloom, trees and grasses release pollen into the air, triggering allergic symptoms in those with seasonal allergies. According to a recent Gallup Healthways poll nearly one in five Americans suffered from allergies in March and April. That's up from years past. Higher pollen counts across much of the country are being blamed for the uptick in allergy sufferers.

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